Sport
12
SEDIBENG STER
13 March - 19 March 2013
Sport at its best
Safa Sedibeng knocked out in semi’s Zacharia Nale
SEDIBENG.- Despite a one-day preparation, Sedibeng Regional Squad showed character before it was defeated 2-1 by SuperSport United Babies in the semifinal of the Future Champions u/17 Gauteng Cup at Wits University Campus over the weekend. No one gave the team a chance, taking into consideration that it was assembled at the eleventh hour for the tournament. Regional squad head coach Themba Dlamini was full of praise for his boys. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Dlamini says his team showed character against all odds when they qualified for the semifinal. He says: "If they’d had enough time to prepare, I have no doubt they could have gone all the way through to the final and probably won the tournament.” This was a better performance compared to last year’s tournament, whereby the regional team failed dismally to make a statement in the tournament. “I’m very proud of these boys because we had only a day to prepare for this tournament but they played like a team that has been there for some time. I also want to thank all the teams that agreed to release their players despite last-minute notices,” adds Dlamini. He says he can’t complain because his team lost to the best team - SuperSport United - which went all the way to be crowned the Cup Champions. This was after SuperSport United beat University of Pretoria 5-4 on penalty-shootouts on Sunday. Meanwhile, Residensia Secondary School failed to make their presence felt in this tournament. This Sebokeng-based school together with Safa Sedibeng squad represented Sedibeng region in this tournament. Photo: Some of the action in the premii nary stages of the Future Champions School Cup recently held at the Isak Steyl Stadium. Photo: Zacharia Nale.
Softball and swimming action galore Zacharia Nale
EBOKENG. - A hive of activity is scheduled for various venues in Sedibeng this coming weekend. Firstly, the initiative to revive softball in Sedibeng bloomed when the Emfuleni Local Municipal Sports Department called for a soccer indaba at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex in Zone 14, Sebokeng, on Sunday at 9:00. Secondly, Eligwa Swimming Club will stage a Swimming Tournament at the Sharpeville Swimming Pool on Saturday. The day’s programme starts at 10:00. The Emfuleni senior sport control officer – Professor Sebeela - is the man behind the much awaited softball indaba. Sebeela invited former softball administrators such as Bricks Tsunke, Phera Maoutloa, Kgapa Papela, Matlakala Mafale and others. He also invited the former Softball
Southern African President Matthews Kutumela and former Emfuleni Local Municipal Mayor Johnny Thabane, who is also passionate about softball. Sebeela says the entire Sedibeng community is invited to come. He also urges former softball players and team officials to attend this special occasion. The only softball team that is still active in our area is VUT Softball Club. “We want to bring softball back because this sport used to bring joy to many in this region. This sport produced great men and women. We used to have household-name softball teams but not any more,” he concluded. Mantsho Matlokoti, one of the Swimming Tournament organisers, says they want to revive the sport. She says Sharpeville Swimming Pool has turned into a ‘white elephant’.
At long last! SEDIBENG. - Hallelujah! This might be a sigh of relief for local soccer teams as we finally received the Emfuleni Local Football Association’s Promotion League fixtures. It’s now official – the Vaal Milling Promotion League will kick off this coming weekend at the various venues in Sedibeng, thanks to the hard working Philip “Mgusho” Ndlovu who called a meeting and convinced teams to affiliate. All the teams have received their block fixtures and are expected to get their players’ cards before the end of the week. Speaking to Sedi-
beng Ster Sport, Ndlovu says he is relieved because most the work has been done and the only thing left is the cards. He was confident that they will be finished before the weekend.“We expect all the teams to start with their league programme at the weekend. I want to thank the executive committee for its support. If it wasn’t for them I don’t think I could have achieved this alone. Now it is up to the teams to make this league worthwhile as was the case last season,” he ends. The league is divided into two streams - A and B. The rest of the weekend fixtures:
STREAM B Saturday Roots Mighty Boys vs Celta Vigo (Zone 15, 11:00) Mighty Killers vs West Ham (Zone 3, 13:00) Vintage vs West FC (Sports Center (13:00) Sunday: Tokyo vs Eya (Zone 15, 11:00) Zone 10 United vs Dream Team (Zone 7, 11:00) Junior Lions vs Roshnee FC (Zone 3, 13:00) Reki Manyora vs Sebokeng Academy (Sports Center, 13:00)
City Stars vs Moropodi (Zone 15, 15:00) STREAM A: Friday Vereeniging Old Boys vs Sebokeng Ajax (Roshnee, 17:00) VUT FC vs Nale Academy (Isak Steyl, 17:00) Saturday Vaal Stars vs Vaal Development Academy (Bophelong, 13:00) Liverpool vs Vaal Manchester (13:00) Sunday Vaal Eagles vs MBC (Boipatong, 11:00) Young Stars vs Young Milano (Boipatong, 15:00)
Zacharia Nale